Girl with a book

A girl is sitting on a low bench with a ball and a picture book, two objects that help to develop the body and the mind of the child. However, there is very little symbolism in this particular case. The round shape of the ball just softens the angular composition, providing a counterbalance to the sharp lines of the bench and the girl’s limbs and hairstyle, while the book gives a reason for the girl’s posture and helps to balance the colours. This picture is an excellent example of the style of painting at Stephen Batory University, or rather of Ludomir Sleńdziński, showing the peaceful coexistence of Art Deco and Neo-Classical principles in student work. Along with the fashion in art in Vilnius in the 1940s, this domestic genre work also shows fashions among urban residents of the period.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

When Ferdynand Ruszczyc had to retire on grounds of ill health in 1932, Ludomir Sleńdziński took over as head of the Faculty of Art. Neoclassical tendencies gained even more prominence, and Sleńdziński was even criticised for his conservative approach to the teaching process. Unlike Kaunas Art School, Stephen Báthory University was already an institution of higher education, so its students did not have the chance to obtain scholarships to study for a university degree abroad. This was one of the reasons why local studies and local artistic trends prevailed. The study process was heavily influenced by the views of its professors, who had studied in art schools in St Petersburg, Kraków and Warsaw, and had travelled to other European countries.

Text authors Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album MORE THAN JUST BEAUTY (2012). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, KAUNAS–VILNIUS / 1918–1945 (2021). Compilers and text authors Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė
Expositions: “More Than Just Beauty: The Image of Woman in the LAWIN collection”, 12 October – 11 November 2012, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius; "1918-1945 / Kaunas-Vilnius", 27 August 2020 – 21 August 2021, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curators Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė. "Women Artists in Interwar Vilnius. Between Expectations and Possibilities", 15 December 2021 – 24 April 2022, Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum, Vilnius. Curators: Algė Andriulytė and Ilona Mažeikienė.

A girl is sitting on a low bench with a ball and a picture book, two objects that help to develop the body and the mind of the child. However, there is very little symbolism in this particular case. The round shape of the ball just softens the angular composition, providing a counterbalance to the sharp lines of the bench and the girl’s limbs and hairstyle, while the book gives a reason for the girl’s posture and helps to balance the colours. This picture is an excellent example of the style of painting at Stephen Batory University, or rather of Ludomir Sleńdziński, showing the peaceful coexistence of Art Deco and Neo-Classical principles in student work. Along with the fashion in art in Vilnius in the 1940s, this domestic genre work also shows fashions among urban residents of the period.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

When Ferdynand Ruszczyc had to retire on grounds of ill health in 1932, Ludomir Sleńdziński took over as head of the Faculty of Art. Neoclassical tendencies gained even more prominence, and Sleńdziński was even criticised for his conservative approach to the teaching process. Unlike Kaunas Art School, Stephen Báthory University was already an institution of higher education, so its students did not have the chance to obtain scholarships to study for a university degree abroad. This was one of the reasons why local studies and local artistic trends prevailed. The study process was heavily influenced by the views of its professors, who had studied in art schools in St Petersburg, Kraków and Warsaw, and had travelled to other European countries.

Text authors Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album MORE THAN JUST BEAUTY (2012). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, KAUNAS–VILNIUS / 1918–1945 (2021). Compilers and text authors Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė
Expositions: “More Than Just Beauty: The Image of Woman in the LAWIN collection”, 12 October – 11 November 2012, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius; "1918-1945 / Kaunas-Vilnius", 27 August 2020 – 21 August 2021, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curators Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė. "Women Artists in Interwar Vilnius. Between Expectations and Possibilities", 15 December 2021 – 24 April 2022, Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum, Vilnius. Curators: Algė Andriulytė and Ilona Mažeikienė.